Overseas Property: Muscling in on Arnie

An army of fans is laying siege to the Terminators former Austrian home, reports Clare Chapman

An Austrian family have discovered an unexpected problem with their rural idyll. Dozens of tourists turn up every day, take pictures through the windows, knock to ask if they can look round and even sit outside enjoying picnics. Recently, they have been joined by journalists seeking gossip about the house’s famous former resident, none other than California gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger.

When the Anderwald family moved into the large five-bedroom property in the tiny village of Thal, near Graz in southern Austria, in 1979, they were glad of the extra space for their rapidly expanding family. Few visitors had heard then of Schwarzenegger, now arguably the most famous living Austrian.

Heinz Anderwald, a local politician, says his dream home has become a nightmare of late: “When we bought the house, we had no idea what lay ahead of us.”

The family received some unwanted attention when Schwarzenegger shot to fame